Help Baby Fall Asleep Faster with the Zen Swaddle by Nested Bean

I recently became a proud auntie... again. It seems like there's babies or pregnant bellies everywhere I look lately and holding the teeny tiny Alanna the other day made my ovaries scream for another itty bitty of my own to snuggle. We'll have a talk later, my ovaries and I, about how there will be none of those shenanigans anytime soon. For the moment, though, I was happy to snuggle and love on her. She has that sweet newborn smell and kept trying to taste my shoulders... *sigh*

She's three weeks old now, and her poor mama has had a hard time with her. There's been lots of discomfort and adjustment to being out of the womb; belly troubles and twitches have made sleeping something that no one in their house is getting. Even while I was holding her, she started this pitiful cry that seemed like nothing would calm. 

I had received a complimentary Zen Swaddle from Nested Bean to review that I figured I would try out on her. She's one of those babies that is fairly content as long as she's being carried around, and so far she only seems to sleep if she's being held. Of course, there's nothing sweeter than loving a sweet snuggly sleeping baby in your arms... until you have to pee. Or if you want some sleep yourself.

Anyway, she let me slip her into the Zen Swaddle and calmed right down when I fastened her into it. She didn't seem to like having her arms by her side and quickly worked one of them up so she could bring her hand to her little mouth. Otherwise, she loved it. 

You're probably wondering what makes this swaddle different than any other swaddle out there, right? Well, this one is weighted. There are special areas of the Zen Swaddle that are lightly weighted to feel like a gentle touch: making baby feel as if she's being held, even when you set her down to sleep. 

At birth all babies have a nervous system that is still developing. One sign of their developing nervous system is that until 4 - 6 months of age infants startle easily as they experience a whole new world of sensations that was absent in the womb. - Moro Reflex: What is it and How Can Swaddling Help?

The Zen Swaddle is specially designed to ensure that baby's hips are not restricted, which can cause hip dysplasia. Their 2 sizes in 1 design can be used from 0 – 6 months, twice as long as regular swaddles, and baby can be swaddled with their arms in or out. 

Features:

• Wide wings to wrap baby in a secure baby burrito

• Strong velcro strips keep swaddle secure

• Shorter pocket on the inside keeps legs snug during earlier weeks.

• Larger sack grows with your baby up to 6 months.

• Weighted areas on both sides and top of baby create an embrace second only to Mom's.

My sister-in-law called me to let me know how much she loves the Zen Swaddle. Not only did it help Alanna's Moro Reflexes from startling her awake, she slept snugly and calmly for several hours in a stretch last night. At three weeks, I wouldn't expect her to sleep all night yet, but if her little belly hadn't woken her up for her bottle I have a feeling she might have. They plan on using the swaddle for a couple more months since their baby girl was so calm and content in it. 

You can find the Zen Swaddle Classic (the one Alanna's wearing up there) on Nested Bean's website for $29.99. They also offer a Premier version, as well as Sleep Sacks. Be sure to check them out, as Moms who’ve used it are reporting that their babies fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer within 1 to 3 nights!